Of all the inventions that have affected homes over the last hundred years, water heaters are probably near the top. No longer do you have to truck outside in the middle of a cold winter to heat up water for a warm bath, now you just flip the switch and it magically appears from your faucet.

But as good is traditional storage tank water heaters are, tankless water heaters are even better, for the reasons that are outlined below. Look through them, and if any of them sound appealing to you, contact a plumber to talk about having a tankless water heater installation performed.

Longer Lifespan

If maintained properly, storage tank heaters can last anywhere from 8 to 12 years. While that is certainly a long time, tankless water heaters can last almost twice as long - usually around 20 years. This is due in large part to the fact that they don't have nearly as many parts to maintain as a storage tank heater: no anode rods, no clunky heating elements, and greatly reduced sediment buildup. Since tankless water heaters operate by heating the water as it passes through a series of pipes, the corrosion and water damage that can set in is also drastically reduced, resulting in a water heater that lasts much longer.

More Hot Water

Most people have had the unfortunate experience of turning on their faucet, only to find out that all the hot water is gone. Storage tank water heaters operate by filling up an entire tank of water, heating it, and then dispensing it throughout your house. Usually, these tanks are anywhere from 50 to 80 gallons, and while that may seem like a lot, a few showers at a single time can drain the entire tank, forcing you to wait while it refills and reheats. Tankless water heaters heat up the water while it's moving, which means you can almost have an unlimited amount of hot water at your disposal.

Lower Energy Costs

Refilling an 80-gallon tank of water costs a lot of money, as does the energy required to keep it constantly hot. Unfortunately, this will reflect in your utility bills, which are much higher than if you had a tankless water heater. On-demand hot water requires much less energy to deliver, and even though a tankless water heater is more expensive to install initially, you should see the financial payback of a tankless water heater for years to come in your energy bill.